Scholarly and Creative Activity Grants for Undergraduates
Scholarly and Creative Activity Grants for Undergraduates
Purpose
This undergraduate initiative is designed to encourage students in every discipline across the campus to be involved in substantive ways in scholarly or creative activities with a faculty member. The emphasis of this initiative is to provide a high quality experience for undergraduates by introducing them to the research or creative paradigms and practices of a discipline through close working relationships with faculty. The collaborative faculty-student interactions and mentoring that occur as part of involvement in research or creative endeavors constitute a valuable and rich source of learning and contribute greatly to students' educational experiences. This year we are fortunate to have support from the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Foundation (a grant through the Center for Academic Excellence) for projects related to research on participatory action community issues, especially marginalized populations, homeless, at-risk youth and other social issues, and from the Rose E. Tucker Foundation.The Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Activity Grants are designed to encourage faculty and students to initiate substantive student involvement in research or creative activities.
Awards
Students may apply for a maximum of $1,000 of support. Up to $25,000 has been allocated by the colleges and schools and Academic Affairs to support this project. The grant period is designed to be flexible.
Review Criteria
The following criteria will be used in determining the award recipients:
- Overall quality of the project
- Quality of the scholarly mentoring and interaction between the faculty member and the student(s)
- Quality of the educational experience for the student
- Likelihood that the project will lead to opportunities for external funding, a conference presentation, publication, exhibition, or other creative performance or product that clearly credits the student contribution.
Eligibility and Application Guidelines
Any undergraduate Portland State University student who is in good academic standing and is enrolled for a minimum of eight (8) credit hours is eligible. Students should submit no more than one proposal although the number of students involved in a given project is variable. A full time faculty mentor must commit to work jointly with the student on the research or creative project. The faculty mentor should demonstrate experience in mentoring and the project should show evidence of substantial student initiative or contribution. Funding can be used to support student wages ($1000 maximum plus OPE), travel or supplies, but cannot be used to support faculty. Projects may occur during fall, winter, spring, summer, or a combination of terms. In the interests of recruiting new students and allowing them a research or creative activity experience, students who have received past funding from this initiative shall be eligible for no more than $1000 total award ($750 limit plus OPE on student wages). Students will submit a proposal not to exceed two pages accompanied by a brief budget and information sheet(s) completed by the faculty mentor. A final report and/or copy of the scholarly or creative activity product is due in the Office of Curriculum and Undergraduate Studies two weeks after the conclusion of the grant period.
Application Information
Application forms are available via the above link and through the Office of Instruction and Undergraduate Studies. The applications will be reviewed by a committee of college and school associate deans. The committee reviews will be submitted to the Vice Provost for Instruction and Undergraduate Studies, who will make the final recommendation to the Provost.
Deadlines
All proposals plus two copies must be submitted by November 30, 2009 (new extended deadline) of each year to the Office of Instruction and Undergraduate Studies, Market Center Building 850 or emailed to Robert Halstead. Awards will be announced in early January of the following year.
Examples of Activity Grants
Click on the links below to see examples of applications submitted in the past.